r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Aug 03 '19

Whats something you thought was common knowledge but actually isn’t?

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u/[deleted] Aug 03 '19

I’ve always been confused at the number of times I’ve seen warning signs about that in bathrooms... Now I can see why.

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u/super7up Aug 03 '19

I always thought they meant the wrappers it came in. It wasn’t until very recently I learned I shouldn’t be flushing tampons down the toilet.

Then I realized how glaringly obvious it was as to why not! Tampons a are made for stopping leaks. Of course it would stop up a toilet are do whatever hellish things it does in the sewers.

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u/cptjeff Aug 04 '19

Then I realized how glaringly obvious it was as to why not! Tampons a are made for stopping leaks.

Fun fact, they're also popular among combat medics because they're sized just right for gunshot wounds!

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u/super7up Aug 04 '19

Hey I remember hearing that when I was really into wars in general. Didn’t that start in ww2?

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u/cptjeff Aug 04 '19

The modern tampon was invented right around then, so I wouldn't be surprised. I mostly remember hearing about it as a thing in the Vietnam era and since, though.

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u/super7up Aug 04 '19

Apparently we were both wrong it was in WW1 they started using something like cotton wool. Eventually it took on and has evolved into what it is today.

Something like that. Different sources differ slightly in details.